Machine for tipping shoe-laces



S. NORDEN. MACHIN E FOR TIPPING SHOE LACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I919.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

S. NORDEN. MACHINE FO R TIPPING SHOE LACES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I919. 1,348,66Q Patented Aug. 3, 1920;

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

S. NORDEN. MACHINE FOR TIPPINGVSHOE LACES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1919.

1,348,660, Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I flamy UNITED STATES V PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR TIPPING SHOE-LAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Application filed March 20, 1919. Serial No. 283,758.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SVAN Norman, 21- citizen of the United States, residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Tipping Shoe-Laces, of which the followlng is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for affixing tips to shoe-laces, corsetlaces or the like. The object of my improvement is to provide an automatic machine for rolling a metal blank around the end of the lace and forcing its overlapping edges together to grip the fabric to secure the tip firmly thereto. To accomplish this object I provide means for holding one edge of the tip-blank in place while rolling its other edge over the lace, and for also locating and holding the end of the lace in proper post tion during the tipping operation. My HI1- provements are embodied in a machine which may be adapted for applying either straight or tapered tips to the lace, and which operates in such a manner as to give a neater and smoother appearance to the finished article, while also tending to increase its durability by attaching the tip more securely in place.

The manner and means for carrying out these improvements are fully described 1n the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts. In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of my 1111- proved machine showing its parts in retracted position before starting to operate on the tip-blank;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspectlve view of one form of blank which is rolled around the lace to form the finished tip;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a portion of the lace showing this type of blank applied to its end to form a tapered or conical tip;

Figs. 1, 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the dies which operate on the blankto roll it around the tip, showing different stages in the tipping process;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the dies, shown in slightly reduced scale;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of a set of dies of slightly modified formfor use in attaching straight tips; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing the straight tip applied to the lace.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the main frame 2 of the machine comprises a standard or uprlght 3 formed with a flat base f having lugs or ears 5 on its sides through which are inserted screws 6 for fastening it to asuitable bench or table 7 At its forward end the uprlght 3 is reduced in width at 8 and cut away at 9 to form an inclined rest or ledge on which the fixed die C is seated against a squared shoulder 10, being held in place by a bolt 11. Projecting rearwardly from the standard 3 and overhanging the base 4 is an inclined shelf 12 which is of greater width than the main portion of the frame. The shelf 12 is slotted longitudinally throughout its length to provide a rectangular track or guideway 13 adapted to receive a slidable, fiat bar or plate 14. The bar 14 is held in place in the guideway 13 by a cover or plate 15 fastened to the upstanding sides of the shelf 12 by means of screws 16. Mounted on the forward end of the bar 14 is the movable die D which cooperates with the fixed die O for affixing the tip to the lace.

Projecting up through an opening 19 in the base 4: is a curved lever 20 which is pivoted on a pin 21 driven through the sides of the opening. The upper arm of the lever 20 reaches through an elongated aperture 22 in the bottom of the shelf 12 and is formed with a circular end 23 which engages the sides of aslot 24: cut through the bar 14. The lower arm of the lever 20 extends forwardly beneath the table 7 on which the frame 2 is fastened and is held in raised position by a coiled spring 25 anchored to a hook 26 on the base l. Connected to the outer end of the lever 20 is a rod or link 27 reaching down to a treadle or foot lever, not herein shown, from which the machine is operated. The lever 20 might be formed with a handle at its outer end, but I have found it preferable to operate it from a treadle in order to leave the hands free for placing the tip-blanks in the machine and for applying the lacing ends thereto for tipping. When the forward end of the lever 20 is depressed it will cause the bar lt to be slid forwardly in its guideway 13 to carry the movable die D toward the fixed die C in the manner as hereinafter more fully explained. The spring 25 acts to return the lever 20 to first position, after the tipping operation has been completed, and a stop-screw 27 is screwed through the end of the shelf 12 to contact with the upper arm of the lever to limit its rearward movement as the die D is withdrawn.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 7, the fixed die C is constructed in the form of a rectangular block having its under side cut away at 29 to form a plate-like extension 30 which overhangs the ledge 9 onthe frame 2 in parallel, spaced relation therewith. The forward lar block orkey-p1ece'33, see Fig. 7, proend of the slidable bar 14 is cut away at its end to form a bearing or seat 31 for, a fiat plate 32 which also rests on the end of the ledge 9 and is adapted'to slide in under the extension 30, of the die C, as shown in Fig.

1. The plate 32 is formed with a rectangujecting above its upper face and adapted to serve as aguide for the die D which is arranged to have a slight sliding movement relatively to the plate' As shown nre'particularly in Fig. .7, the die D takes the form of a fiat plate which is cut away at its cen- V ter to provide two opposite, parallel legs 34:,

34,- straddling the sides of the block orlkey 33 on the lower plate 32. Overlying the top of the die D is a third flat plate 35, see Fig.

1, which is fastened by pins or rivets 36 to the top of the key 33 to prevent the die from rising up out of place thereon. A bolt 37 extends down through the plate 35, die D and plate 32, and is screwed into the bar 1 to secure the several parts in place thereon with the end of the plate 32 abutting a shoulden 38 to prevent it. from turning. As heforeexplained, the die D is adapted to slide back and forth on the )late 32 while bein C) guided by the key 33, and this sliding movement is limited'by a stop-pin 39,'see Fig. 7, which is driven down through the top-plate 35 and projects into an enlarged hole 4.0 in

the die. Inserted between the forward'edgeoverhanging curved lip 43. The concaved under face of the lip 43 is formed concentric with an upstanding curved shoulder or ledge l4 onthe plate 32, these two faces registering to forlna half circle when the die D is in its retracted position as illustrated in Fig.

. 6. When, however, the die D is slid foi ward on the plate 32,under the action of the spring All, see Figs. 41 and 7, the lip 43 is advanced beyond the ledge 44 so that its under edge projects beyond and overhangs the top of the ledge to form an abrupt shoulder 45. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide an overhanging abutment for holding particularly to the enlarged one edge of the tip-blank B in place while its opposite edge is rolled up over the end of the lace L as shown in Fig. 5 and more fully explained hereinafter.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the tip-blank B consists in a relatively thin, fiat strip of sheet-metal, and as here illustrated its opposite marginal edges are inclined toward each other at one end. This provides that when the blank B is rolled around the end of the lace L it will assume a slightly conical shape, to formla more or less pointed tip as shown in Fig.- 3. In some cases, however, where a straight tip is required the blank is made rectangular in shape with its marginal edges parallel. In either case 2. iy improved form of blank is preferably constructedwlth its opposite edges rolled or bent over to form upstanding curved lips Z), Z). The upwardl bent edges 6 of the blank serve to facilitate the operation of rolling it around the as the dies start to operate a ainst its si For this purpose it is only necessary to ve one of the edges bent or curled upwardly, but for the sake of symmetry, and to provide for more convenient manufacture of the blanks in stamping them out, of the m al sheet, I have found it preferable to ben both edges. As shown in Fig.2, the l B is usually punched with a series of perforations which upsets the strip on its upper face to form sharp-edged projections i3, These projections or prongs T2 are ada to bite into the fabric when the blank clenched around the lace whereby to grit end and prevent the tip from pulling s,

.lieferring to Figs. 4:, 5 and 6, the overhanging extension 30 of the fixed die C has its forward end beveled off at top and bottom, the under beveled face 49 terminat ing in a semi-circular recess 50. This con caved recess 50 forms the working-face of the die C, its lower edge taking the form of a sharp, pointed prow 51 where it meets thejtop of the plate 32 which slides neath it. As the movable die D is slid for ward toward the fixed die C the end of the plate 32 strikes against the shoulder 2 at the end of the recess below the extension 30 on the die C to act as a stop to prevent further movement of'the die D, see Fig. 6. lVhen thedie D is carried into this position by the sliding movement of its support or bar 14;, its upper, beveled face42comes into contact with the opposite, under beveled face ll), on the die U and this engagement serves to slide the die D back on the plate 32 against the action of its spring 41, see also Fig. As the two dies thus come into register to act on the blank B, in the manner as hereinafter more fully explained, the concaved lip 4- on the die D is brought into concentric relation with the upstanding curved shoulder 4,401), the plate 32 and with the concaved recess on the die C, forming a complete circle with the working-faces of the dies inclosing the finished tip as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted from reference to Fig. 7 that the opposite, undercut working-faces 43 and 50 of the dies D and C and the upstanding ledge 44 of the plate 32 are inclined. slightly toward each other in a horizontal plane to conform to the taper of the edges of the blank B. lVhen, however, a straight-sided blank is to be used for tips of the type shown in Fig. 10, then the working-faces of the dies and the shoulder 44 on the plate 32 are made parallel as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

Set into a recess on one side of the plate 32 is a vertical plate 53, see Figs. 1 and 7, fastened in place by a screw '54, and serving as a stop or limit for engaging the end of the blank B to locate it in position in relation to the dies. Fastened to the top of the plate 35, by means of a screw and dowel pin 56, is a fiat spring 57 having an arm 58 bent downwardly against the inclined face 42 of the die D. At its forward end the arm 58 has fork-like tines or fingers 59 which are curled upwardly at their outer extremities. The fingers 59 are adapted to bear against the side of the lacing L, when the movable die D moves forward toward the fixed die C, to carry it over into position and hold it in place to be received within the edge of the blank B as the lat ter is bent therearound, see Fig. 4. I As the die D slides up into register with the die 0 the fingers 59'enter grooves 60 therein, the bottom of the grooves being inclined upwardly whereby the end of the spring-arm 58 is lifted slightly to raise its fingers 59 out of the way as the working-faces of the dies act on the finished tip, see Figs. 5 and 6. Having now described the construction and arrangement of the several parts of my improved apparatus, its method of operation will next be explained: I

Vith the parts of the machine in the position shown in Fig. 1 the blank B is laid flat on the top of the plate 32 with its end against the side of the stop-plate 53 to locate it in position in relation to the dies. "With the die D retracted the spring-arm 58 is withdrawn sufiiciently to permit the blank 13 to be conveniently set in place, and the slope of the plate '32, on which it is laid, causes it to slide down into position with its edge 7) resting against the working face of the die 0, see Fig. 4. The end of the lacing L to be tipped is next laid in place on the top of the blank and the operator then depresses the treadle or foot-lever to rock the lower arm of the lever 20 downwardly. This action causes the upper arm of the lever 20'to slide the bar 14 forward and downward in its guideway 13 to cause its projecting plate 32 to be slid in under the overhanging extension 30 of the die C. As before explained, the plate 32 carries the die D and as the latter moves forward its bottom edge 45, which overhangs the shoulder or ledge 44 on the plate, will ride into position above the curled-up edge I) of the blank 13 as shown in Fig. 4. Meanwhile, the forward movement of the die D will also have carried the curved end of the spring-arm 58 against the side of the lacing L and the latter will have been pushed or slid over against the under-beveled face of the die C. Now, as the die D continues to advance it will push the blank B against the die C to roll its forward edge up around the lace L in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 5. This rolling action is caused by the edge I) following the concaved face 50 on the die C as the side of the blank is pried or wedged away from the plate 32 by the sharp-edged prow 51. While the forward edge 6 of the blank B is thus being'rolled around the lace L, the lat-: ter being maintained thereagainst by the spring-arm 58, the opposite rearward edge Z2 is held down against the plate 32 by the overhanging edge or abutment 45 on the die D. As the edge 6 of the blank being operated upon rolls or curls over the top of the lacing L the tines or lingers 59 at the end of the spring-arm 58 slide into the grooves 60 in the die C, see Figs. 5 and 7, and are thereby lifted out of the way when the dies are finally brought together. As the die D comes into register with the die C the beveled face 49 on the latter engages the opposite inclined face 42 'on the die D to hold. the latter from further movement while the plate 32 moves forward, this action being provided for by the yielding of the spring 41, see Fig. 7, as before explained. As the die D is held in this manner the ledge 44 on the plate 32 slides out from under the overhanging edge 45 of the die to release the edge 5 of the blank B which has been held thereunder. It will be understood that the sliding movement of the die D on the plate 32 is limited by the engagement of the pin 39 with the sides of the hole 40, see Fig. 7 This provides that when the concaved edge 43 of the die D comes into concentrie register with the curved edge of the. ledge 44 on the plate 32 the die will be held fast with the plate. Therefore, as the plate 32 reaches the end of its stroke, with its end engaging the shoulder 29 on the die C, the two working-faces of the dies D and C will be pressed firmly against the sides of the blank B to clench its overlapping edges together as shown in Fig. 6. This final clenching action of the dies causes the prongs b on the inner surface of the blank B to bite into the sides of the lacing, while also tending to set the blank to prevent its edges from springing apart. In this way the blank B is caused to be constricted snugly around the lacmg while compressing the latter slightly, as shown in Fig. 6, so that when the tip is removed from the dies it will have a smooth, practically unbroken joint where its end overlaps the lace and will present an extremely neat and finished joinder therewith while being held firmly and securely in place thereon. After the tipping operation is completed the treadle is released and the lever '20 will be returned to first position, as .shown in Fig. 1, under the action of the spring 25. The rocking back of the lever withdraws the bar 14 and opens the dies to release the finished tip and the parts are thus returned to position for receiving and operating on a fresh blank.

1 The conical or. pointed form of tip-. T shown in Fig. 3is usually applied to round q laces, so-called, but with fiat, tubular laces a strighttip is employed. The straight type of tip T isillustrated in Fig. 10 and is affixed to the lace in substantially the samemanner as above explained in connection with the conical tip. F or a straight tip the blank is made rectangular with its marginal edges parallel, and the dies C and D have parallel working-faces as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 During the process of rolling this form of tip. around the lace the end of the latter is doubled on itself or folded together, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, while the side of the blank curls around it. As shown particularly in Fig. 9, the edge I) of the blank curls into the folded seam 1 of the fabric and takes a firm grip thereagainst, while the opposite edge of the blank 7 is clenched against it. In this way the edge V of my improved apparatus without departing from thespn'it or scope of the invenof the blank is caused to take afirm bite on the lace L to secure the' tip' against pulling off and the finished tip T will have a closer fitting and neater appearance as shown in Fig. 10. I

'It-will be observed from the foregoing that my improvement provides. a practically automatic, quick-acting apparatus for applying tips to shoe-laces while clenching them firmly in place thereon. The tips are afiixed in place by a-method' which i'nsuresa firm grip on the end of the lace, to prevent them from pulling offunder hard usage, and the finished tip has a particularly smooth and neat appearance which enhances the com mercial value of the completed lacing.

.Various'modifications might be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts tion,.-therefore, without limiting myself to the exact embodiment herein shown anddescribed, what I claim is 1, In armachine for tipping corsetor shoelaces, the combination of a set of dies arranged to act against the opposite edges of the tip-blank to roll the latter around the lace, a substantially flat rest on which the blank lies, means to operate said dies, means engaging the marginal edge of the blankto hold it fiat against the-rest while its other edge is curled around the lace, and means to release the edge-holding means as the dies come into register.

2. In a machine for tipping corsetor shoe-laces, the combination with a pair of cooperating dies having a substantially flat rest on which the tip-blank lies and con caved working-faces adapted to act against the opposite edges of the blank to curl the latter around the lace, of means to carry the diestogether, and a releasable abutment on one of the dies for engaging one edge of the blank to hold it flat against the rest until the other edge has been bent around the lace contiguous to said first mentioned edge.

3. In a shoe-lace tipping machine, the combination with a'pair of cooperating dies having concaved working-faces for acting against the edges of a flat tip-blank-and a substantially flat rest against which the blank lies, of means for carrying the dies into cooperative'relation, means on one of the dies overhanging one edge of the blank .faces for acting against the opposite edges of a relatively flat tip-blank and a substantially flat rest against which the blank lies, one of said dies having 7 an overhanging abutment adapted to overlie one edge of the blank, to holdthe latter flat against the rest, means to carry the dies together to cause the opposite edge of the blank to be bent around the tip, and means to withdraw the edgeholding abutment from engagement with the blank when the dies are brought into register. I i

V 5.- In a tipping-machine for shoe-laces or the like, the combination with a relatively flat rest fo'r'the tip-blank having a raised ledge for engaging one edge of the blank, a die having an undercut concaved workingface, said-die. slidable on the blank-rest to overhang its-ledge to hold the blank flat dies having cooperating working faces adapted to act against the opposite edges of the tip-blank to roll the latter around the lace, of resiliently-operated means arranged to overlie one edge of the blank to hold it in place as its other edge is curled around the lace, and means to displace the holdingmeans to release the edge of the blank as the dies come into register to clench the tip in place on the lace.

7. In a tipping-machine, the combination with a rest for the tip-blank having an upstanding abutment for engaging one edge of the blank, a die slidable on the rest and provided with a working-face normally positioned above the blank, resilient means for maintaining said die with the edge of its working-face advanced beyond the abutment on the rest to overhang the edge of the blank to hold it from bending, a second die having a working-face adapted to cooperate with that on the first die, and means to operate the dies to bring their working-faces into register while forcing the sliding-die back to aline its working-face with the abutment on the rest.

8. In a tipping-machine, the combination with a die having a concaved working-face adapted to act against one edge of the tipblank to roll it around the lace, of a rest for the blank arranged to slide beneath the Working-face of the die and provided with a raised abutment for engaging the rearward edge of the blank, a second die mounted to slide on the rest and provided with a working-face arranged thereabove, means for normally maintaining the second die with the edge of its work1ng-face advanced beyond the abutment on the rest to overlie the edge of the blank to hold it thereagainst, andmeans for sliding the rest to carry the dies into engagement to act on the blank while displacing the slidable die to bring the working-faces into register to clench the tip around the lace.

9. In a tipping-machine, the combination with a fixed die having an undercut concaved working-face on its forward end,of a slidable bar, a plate-like rest carried by the bar to adapt it to slide beneath the workingface of the fixed die, said rest provided on its top with a raised abutment for engaging the edge of the tip-blank carried thereon, a movable die carried by the rest and slidable thereon to a limited extent, said die having a concaved working-face arranged above the rest, a spring for maintaining the movable die in advanced position on the rest with the edge of its working-face overhanging the abutment thereof, and means to operate the slide whereby the movable die is carried against the fixed die to force it back on the rest to bring its working-face into alinement with the abutment thereof while registering it with the working-face of the fixed die.

10. In a tipping-machine for shoe-laces or the like, the combination with a pair of dies having a flat rest on which the tip-blank lies and working-faces adapted to cooperate to act on the opposite edges of the blank to roll it around the lace, of means engaging one edge of the blank to hold the latter fiat against the rest, and means for holding the end of the lace in place to be received within the rolled-over edge of the blank.

11. In a tipping-machine for shoe-laces or the like, the combination with a pair of dies having cooperating working-faces for acting against the edges of the tip-blank to roll it around the lace, of means for holding the end of the lace in place as one edge. of the blank is bent around it, and means to carry the lace-holding means out of the way as the dies are brought together to clench the tip in place on the lace.

12. In a tipping-machine for shoe-laces or the like, the combination with two dies movable one in relation to the other to cause their working-faces to act against the edges of the tip-blank arranged between them to roll it around the lace, of a yieldable spring carried by one of the dies to adapt it to engage the end of the lace to move it into position to be received within the edge of the blank as the latter is rolled around it.

13. In a tipping-machine for shoe-laces or the like, the combination with two cooperating dies for acting on the tip-blank to roll it around the lace, of means to carry the dies together, and a spring arm proecting from one die into position to engage the end of the lace to hold it in place as the blank is rolled around it, the end of said arm being adapted to engage an inclined face on the opposite die to cause it to be raised out of the way as the dies come together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SVAN NORDEN. 

